Why People Collect Toys

Remember when you were a child? What toys did you play with? What toys did you beg your parents to buy you? There are scientific studies that show that what toys we played with are associated with who we are. Since most of us played with toys when we were children, our toys remind us not only of our childhood, but also of who we used to be. Toys let us dream, and we could be astronauts, fire fighters, Han Solo, or even Care Bears.

The love of toys doesn't necessarily leave us when we grow older. Old toys in particular can remind of us happy memories or loved ones. You might see one toy that holds a lot of fun memories for you, and then you see that next piece. Before you know it, you become a collector.

A collection of toys usually can start quite innocently. For some, a collection begins when childhood toys are rediscovered during a house cleaning. Others may begin a collection by purchasing items of interest to them, such as a person buying a miniature model of a car they would love to own. For others, it can begin by acquiring toys that they played with so that their children can enjoy the same items.

Since ancient toys are so costly, most people collect toys from the mid-1800s to the present. Collections can be as small as a few items, yet as large as space permits. Whatever the reason people start collections, once started, they can provide a source of pride, pleasure, and a sense of accomplishment during "the hunt" for those special toys.